My wife has suggested that we gentiles are not born again and that this is only for the Jews. What are your thoughts about that? Any help would be appreciated.
Are we, in the Body of Christ today, born again? No, we are not. That is terminology used only in reference to the nation of Israel. Our Apostle Paul never used that terminology to describe us.
It is Israel that needs to be born again—not the Body of Christ. It was Israel that was first born of God the first time, when He brought them out of Egypt. That was their physical birth as a nation. The Lord tells Nicodemus that his nation must be born "again"....this time not physically, but spiritually.
John 3:1-8
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee [Nicodemus], Ye [Israel] must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Notice the Lord says, "thee," singular, meaning Nicodemus; whereas "ye," plural, refers to the entire nation as must needs be born again. (It is noteworthy to point out only the Authorized Version from the Majority Text makes this distinction. All of the other modern versions (Minority Texts) muddy up this doctrine to the point pulpits have proclaimed that we gentiles must be born again. No wonder there is so much confusion in Christendom.)
This is why John came baptizing them—to cleanse them so that they could be anointed with the Spirit of God!
The issue of "born again" has to do with them getting the Spirit (eternal life)...fulfilled fully in the kingdom (that National Day of Atonement).
So, no, members of the Body of Christ are not born again because we, as gentiles, were not "born of God" the first time, as was only Israel!
Isaiah 66:8
Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.
Hopefully this helps...Maranatha!
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